lozenge

American  

[loz-inj] / ˈlɒz ɪndʒ /

noun

1. a small, flavored tablet made from sugar or syrup, often medicated, originally diamond-shaped.

2. Geometry Now Rare. diamond.

3. Heraldry.

   1. a diamond-shaped charge.

   2. a diamond-shaped shield bearing the arms of a woman.

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lozenge British  

/ ˈlɒzɪndʒ /

noun

1. Also called: pastille.   troche.  med a medicated tablet held in the mouth until it has dissolved

2. geometry another name for rhombus

3. heraldry a diamond-shaped charge

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Etymology

Origin of lozenge

1300–50; Middle English losenge < Middle French, Old French, perhaps < Gaulish *lausa flat stone + -enge < Germanic -inga -ing ³

Explanation

A lozenge is a kind of medicated candy that soothes your sore throat. If you've got a dry cough, you should drink some water and try sucking on a lozenge. You might call a lozenge a "cough drop" or "pastille." Some have ingredients that ease the scratchy throat that causes coughing, and others are meant to relieve the discomfort of a sore throat. The word lozenge can also refer to a diamond shape. The tile on your bathroom floor might be a pattern of blue and white lozenges. Throat lozenges were originally diamond-shaped, hence the name.

Example Sentences

The machine itself rolled lozenge dough and pressed them into perfect discs, thus eliminating the use of mortar and pestle to manually knead, roll and cut out the dough.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2024

It is an enormous yellow lozenge moored to the seafloor with two giant turbines attached on what look like great wings.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2023

Square motifs were knitted horizontally and vertically — hitting a high on a stretchy green gown with a stretch lozenge shaped front.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2023

Portman noted that the way she exaggeratedly works a lozenge in her mouth during a contentious press interview was inspired by Madonna in her tour documentary “Madonna: Truth or Dare.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2018

“Now, Mother, I haven’t troubled Constance with any of that nonsense. There’s nothing to tell, really. Itchy rash. Coughing fits. A stiff brandy and a headache lozenge, and I’m good as new.”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood